Container



B. GREISMAN June 12, 1956 CONTAINER Filed Aug. 25, 1953 6'0 64 78 7&

. nite i This invention relates generally to containers and moreparticularly to those especially adapted for carrying articles such asvegetables and fruits which are further protected by a cellophane orsimilar transparent film Wrapper.

It is known in the art to provide a device generally of this character,commonly referred to as a tray, and which forms a semi-rigid support fora plurality of articles, in turn covered by a thin protective wrapping.The tray gives physical support to both the articles and to the clearWrapping about it, so that the product may be easily viewed, carried,and stored by the user.

It is desirable in a device of the present character that the same becompact prior to use, and so it is therefore among the objects of thepresent invention to provide a tray-like container which is no thickerthan the cardboard of which it is composed when it is in a flattenedstate.

Since the present device serves only a temporary function of supportingthe article which it carries until the article is used, it is highlydesirable that the device be produced at low cost, and another objectherein lies in the provision of such device using a minimum of planarmaterial for a given size.

Another object herein is to provide a container of the class described,which although delivered to the user in a flattened state, is easily andquickly set up, and which when erected, substantially maintains itsshape and strength without the use of any adhesives.

Another object lies in the provision of a container, which when set up,has a plurality of parts which snap into interengagement with a lockingaction.

A feature of the present construction is that since the board, which iscut away from the rectangular blank represents a loss or waste, aminimum of such cutting away occurs, and consequently a box of maximumstrength is provided, even when the cardboard or other planar materialof which it is composed is of relatively light weight.

Another feature of the present construction is desirable in that byvirtue of the simplicity of the set up operations, the same may beperformed by comparatively simple automatic machinery.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fullyappear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a top plan view of a blank of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a first step inthe erection of the container.

Figure 3 is a perspective view comparable to Figure 2, showing anensuing step.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view corresponding generally toFigure 3, and showing a following step in erection.

States Patent Ofiice 2,750,100 Patented June 12, 1956 Figure 5 is afragmentary perspective view showing the container fully set up.

Figure 6 is an elevational view as might be seen from a point rearwardlyof Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an elevational view reduced in size, showing a finished setup container.

As in accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, is formed from a blank 11 of substantiallyplanar material. The material may be relatively flexible cardboard,wellknown in the art, which when bent and folded, produces a semi-rigidcontainer. The blank is best seen in Figure 1 where the dot-dash linesindicate lines along which the blank has a predisposition to bend ortold. This is produced in any suitable manner Well-known in the boxmaking field, as for example, by spaced perforations or slits, or byscoring or embossing. \Vhile the device may be used in any suitableposition, for clarity in description, the edge 12 may be referred to asa front edge. The blank, therefore, also includes a rear edge 13, andend edges 14 and 15. The base 16 lies between the fold line 17 and thefold line 13, and between fold lines 19, 20 and cut 21 on the left, andfold lines 22, 23, and the cut 24 on the right.

Extending to the left of the cut 21 is the end wall 25, the fold line 26and the top flap 27. Similarly, extending to the right of the cut 24 isthe end wall 28, the fold line 29 and the top flap 30. The lines 17 and18 are preferably substantially parallel, While the fold lines 19 and20, and 22 and 23 are substantially parallel, and at right angles to thelines 17 and 13. Front wall 31 and rear wall 32 lie between the foldlines 17 and 13, and the edges 12 and 13 respectively, at their endsextend to the fold lines 33*40, inclusive, respectively, and theelongated orifices 41-44 inclusive, respectively.

Extending inwardly from the outer ends of the edges 14 and 15, areinwardly directed cuts 45, 46, 47, 48, which extend to the juncture ofthe tab fold lines 43-52, inclusive, with the end wall fold lines 53-56,inclusive. The cuts 4548 are substantially colinear with the fold lines5356, respectively, so that they converge in the direction of the edges14 and 15. Disposed between the fold lines 33, 37, 35, 39, and the foldlines 49-52, respectively, and outwardly of the fold lines 53-56respectively, are the gusset portions 57, 58, 59, 60. Each of the gussetmembers has a V-shaped indentation 61-64 respectively, one edge of whichindentation being colinear with the diagonal fold lines 6568.

Disposed outwardly of the cuts 4548 and the fold lines 49-52,respectively, are the locking tabs 71-74. The locking tabs ll-74 haveouter longitudinal edges 75-78, while their end edges are of irregularconfiguration best seen in Figure 1, having the locking projections79-82 respectively, and the locking tips 8386.

Since the right hand end of the container is substantially identicalwith the left hand end, for the purpose of avoiding needless repetition,a detailed description is given here with respect to the left hand end.

As seen in Figure 2, the gusset portions 57 and 58 are pushed inwardlytoward each other, that is to say, toward the central longitudinal axisof the blank 11. This will cause elevation of the front wall 31 and therear wall 32, as well as elevation of the end wall 25. At the same time,further folding of the gusset members about the then inwardly movingfold lines 65 and 66 is obtained by pivoting the end wall 25 about thefold lines 19 and 20. Simultaneously, the convex portion of the cut 21swings downwardly about the fold lines 19 and 20 as an axis, to producethe opening 85 (Figure 3).

The parts at this stage may appear as seen in Figure 3.

Next, the locking tabs 71 and 72 are brought inwardly and downwardlyabout the folding lines 49 and 50, re spectively, in the direction ofthe arrows 86 on Figure 4. Because the effective width of the lockingtabs 71 and 72 (transversely of the device across the long axis thereof)is greater than the total width of the base 16, and they swing inwardlyabout the fold lines 53 and 54 as an axis, and these lines convergetoward each other, the locking tabs 71 and 72 will overlap, and theparts will appear as seen in Figure 4. Further movement of said tabs inthe direction of the arrows 86 will result in the projections 79 and S0snapping into the opening 85, and in the locking tips 83 and 84,snapping into the openings 41 and 43, whereupon the parts appear as seenin Figure 5.

Preferably after the projections 79 and 80, and the locking tips 83 and84 have been secured, the top flap 27 is bent through 90 degrees so thatit may take the position as seen in Figure 5. As viewed from the leftend, the device 10 will now appear as seen in Figure 6. Theprotuberation of the projections 79 and 80, and the locking tips 83 and84 on Figure 6, is exaggerated for purposes of clarity in the drawing.Actually, it is desirable that these parts interlock sufficiently sothat normal container distortions will not result in unseating them.Excess projection may have a deleterious effect upon the exteriorwrapping (not shown).

The taper of the cuts 45 and 46, and of the fold lines 53 and 54, iswell seen in Figure 6. Here the taper is not so much as to greatlyaffect the protection alforded by the end of the container to thecontents 9, and particularly where these are round objects, such asapples or tomatoes, their generally round shape somewhat conforms tosaid taper. Yet this taper is sutficient to enable the locking tabs 71and 72 to overlap and partially cross over to produce increasedthickness, firmness and protection at the end of the box.

It may thus be seen that I have disclosed a novel and useful container,which although it may be manufactured at low cost, provides substantialprotection for the contents with increased convenience and strength.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. Container construction comprising: a base; a front wall and a rearwall foldably connected to said base; an end wall foldably connected tosaid base; said container having an opening between said base and saidend wall; a pair of gusset portions interconnecting said end wall withsaid front and rear walls respectively; said container having a pair ofelongated orifices disposed between front and rear walls and said gussetportions; a pair of locking tabs extending from said gusset portions;said locking tabs each having a projection at a corner thereof, and alocking tip in spaced relationship with respect to said projection at asecond corner thereof; said gusset portions being inwardly foldabletoward said base to elevate said end wall; said locking tabs beingdownwardly foldable in lapped interrelation, the projections beinginsertible into said opening, and the locking tips being insertible intosaid elongated orifices.

2. Container construction comprising: a base; a front wall and a rearwall foldably associated with said base; a tapered end wall foldablyassociated with said base; said container having an opening between saidbase and said end wall; a pair of gusset portions interconnecting saidfront wall and end wall, and rear wall and end wall, respectively; saidcontainer having a pair of elongated orifices disposed between saidfront and rear wall and said gusset portions; a pair of locking tabsextending from said gusset portions, said locking tabs each having aprojection disposed at a corner thereof, and a locking tip in spacedrelationship with respect to said projection at a second corner thereof;said gusset portions being inwardly foldable toward said base to elevatesaid end wall; said locking tabs being downwardly foldable in lappedinterrelation, the projections being insertible into said opening, andthe locking tips being insertible into said elongated orifices.

3. Container construction comprising: a base; a front wall and a rearwall foldably associated with said base; a tapered end wall foldablyassociated with said base; said container having an opening between saidbase and said end wall; a pair of gusset portions interconnecting saidfront wall and end wall, and rear wall and end wall, respectively; saidcontainer having a pair of elongated orifices disposed between saidfront and rear wall and said gusset portions; a pair of locking tabsextending from said gusset portions, and lying in overlapping relationship; said locking tabs each having a projection disposed at acorner thereof, and a locking tip in spaced relationship with respect tosaid projection at a second corner thereof; said gusset portions beinginwardly foldable toward said base to elevate said end wall; saidlocking tabs being downwardly foldable in lapped inter relation, theprojections being insertible into said opening, and the locking tipsbeing insertible into said elon gated orifices.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,591,500 Bloomer Apr. 1, 1952 2,643,813 Vines June 30, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 468,706 Canada Oct. 10, 1950

